He said the funding will cover half of the cost to replace a single-lane timber bridge on Tenterden Road with a two-lane concrete bridge, worth in total $1,060,000.

Guyra Shire Council’s Mayor, Cr Hans Hietbrink, said the upgrading of the bridge was a “wonderful thing for the people who use that road”.

“A new bridge will mean the trip into Guyra will be much safer and provide a better run for cars and trucks into town,” he said.

Mr Joyce said the Bridges Renewal Programme in Round 1 and Round 2 had injected $3,647,850 into local governments from Tenterfield in the north of the Electorate to Tamworth in the south.

“Funding in Round 1 of the Programme, included $350,000 for the Bookookoorara Bridge on the Mount Lindesay Road, $705,000 for Abington Bridge on the Uralla-Bundarra Road and $350,000 for the Glen Innes Severn Shire Council’s Severn River Bridge on Nine Mile Road,” he said.

“Round 2 grants included $639,500 for three bridges for the Walcha Council and $273,350 for two bridges in the Tamworth Regional Council. Gunnedah Shire Council received an $800,000 grant for the renewal of the Simpson Bridge before it was gazetted into the Parkes Electorate,” Mr Joyce said.

Mr Joyce said the Bridges Renewal Programmes underpinned the Coalition Government’s support for local bridges, which are vital in ensuring communities and local businesses have easy access to essential services, traffic movement and the efficient transportation of road freight.

He said the Programme is designed to bolster the productivity of Australia’s local bridges, and give councils the support they need to better serve communities and drive greater efficiency in road freight and traffic movement.

“These upgrades mean local communities within the Tamworth Regional Council LGA will have access to safer and more reliable road access.

“This will not only reduce the time taken to transport freight from farms and local industry, but increase productivity and economic gains,” he said.